Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:40 am  

So the word in Aus is that sam is signing for the new zealand warriors and we are getting 3 players in return 1 of them being kevin locke (current nz warriors fullback). he is a very exciting player probably not as good at the link up plays as sam but i think he will develop into a world class player at wigan.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:50 am  

dubairl wrote:

So the word in Aus is that sam is signing for the new zealand warriors and we are getting 3 players in return 1 of them being kevin locke (current nz warriors fullback). he is a very exciting player probably not as good at the link up plays as sam but i think he will develop into a world class player at wigan.

This is interesting as I heard a rumour that Leuluai is wanting a return to Wigan next season.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:56 am  

A deal like that would be immense but I just don't see it sadly. If Tomkins is going to the NRL I'd expect it to be a Sydney club to have that comfort of having blokes like Sam Burgess and James Graham close by. I'd love to be wrong though and a deal like that to be what's in the pipeline for when he does leave.

My overall feeling though is he'll be playing for Saracens this time next year.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:26 am  

dubairl wrote:

So the word in Aus is that sam is signing for the new zealand warriors and we are getting 3 players in return 1 of them being kevin locke (current nz warriors fullback). he is a very exciting player probably not as good at the link up plays as sam but i think he will develop into a world class player at wigan.

Hang-on a minute! My undersatnding was that Super League is goosed and no NRL player is ever coming to these shores again yet all of a sudden, just to allow Tomkins to escape from his Wigan hell, three NZ Warriors, including highly rated Kevin Locke, are willing to up-sticks and accept pauper's pay and sign for Wigan.

Not saying it isn't true but being honest isn't there just a little bell ringing in your head telling you that somebody is feeding you a right load of rubbish?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:05 am  

Paul Youane wrote:

Hang-on a minute! My undersatnding was that Super League is goosed and no NRL player is ever coming to these shores again yet all of a sudden, just to allow Tomkins to escape from his Wigan hell, three NZ Warriors, including highly rated Kevin Locke, are willing to up-sticks and accept pauper's pay and sign for Wigan.

Not saying it isn't true but being honest isn't there just a little bell ringing in your head telling you that somebody is feeding you a right load of rubbish?

Unfortunately, I'm inclined to agree. Knowing the towering, almost delusional arrogance of everyone involved in the NRL - remember Phil Gould saying that Gareth Ellis had to be taught how to play Rugby League on the day he arrived? - I can't envisage anyone, even the NZ Warriors, being prepared to send us three players, including their next star turn, in exchange for one British player.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:51 am  

dubairl wrote:

So the word in Aus is that sam is signing for the new zealand warriors and we are getting 3 players in return 1 of them being kevin locke (current nz warriors fullback). he is a very exciting player probably not as good at the link up plays as sam but i think he will develop into a world class player at wigan.

Well that is interesting because I know we have looked at Kevin Locke for next year, haven't heard anything about the other 2 players though. Sam will end up at Gold Coast, NZ Warriors or Saracens next year.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:40 am  

MattyB wrote:

This is interesting as I heard a rumour that Leuluai is wanting a return to Wigan next season.

I'd take him back in a second.

That's not to say our guys aren't playing well alread tho. If the cap allows it there's always room for a top draw player and pro like Tommy.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:06 am  

MattyB wrote:

This is interesting as I heard a rumour that Leuluai is wanting a return to Wigan next season.

sergeant pepper wrote:

I'd take him back in a second.

Only as long as he sticks to playing hooker and promises not to do any kicking!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:07 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I'd take him back in a second.

That's not to say our guys aren't playing well alread tho. If the cap allows it there's always room for a top draw player and pro like Tommy.

Would that be a wise move, do you think, if we had a choice of getting someone else from NZ?

I loved Tommy, but I'm increasingly finding his halfback replacements satisfactory.

Would we really want to spend all that money on an interchange hooker, if, for example, we had the opportunity to spend it elsewhere on the team? (I refuse to mention spending it on Locke, because I plain don't believe that rumour).

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:38 am  

Cruncher wrote:

Would that be a wise move, do you think, if we had a choice of getting someone else from NZ?

I loved Tommy, but I'm increasingly finding his halfback replacements satisfactory.

Would we really want to spend all that money on an interchange hooker, if, for example, we had the opportunity to spend it elsewhere on the team? (I refuse to mention spending it on Locke, because I plain don't believe that rumour).

Smith is a decent player with a good kicking game but he's not in Tommy's class.

If Hampshire is being groomed as Sam's replacement it does leave us worryingly thin when it comes to HB cover.

Powell and Logan are good players but I'd have Tommy in that bench spot.

Again, and like I said originally, it's all dependent on cost. I should have also added my comments are based upon Tommy wanting to return and not us chasing him. I think there's a massive difference between the two approaches.